Last updated: August 2026
The S8 changed the shape of phones. Its tall, narrow display with almost no bezel became the template every manufacturer followed — and it is why phones look the way they do today.
Why tall and narrow won
Stretching the screen vertically rather than widening it produced a phone with much more display area that was still no harder to hold.
- Width stayed manageable, so one-handed use survived
- More content fits vertically — ideal for feeds, messages and web pages
- Bezels shrank, so the body grew barely at all
The cost was video: films shot in wider ratios show black bars, or must be cropped. That trade has stuck, because scrolling is what people do most.
See why screen size numbers stopped being comparable.
What it got wrong
Removing the front bezel left nowhere for the fingerprint reader, so it moved to the back beside the camera — awkward to reach and easy to smudge the lens. Samsung also added a dedicated button for its assistant that many owners disliked and could not remap.
Both were fixed in later generations. It is a good illustration that the first phone to do something is rarely the one to buy.
Where the S8 stands now
From 2017 and long past software support. It also has a curved display, with the usual accidental-touch and repair-cost issues.
Do not buy or finance one. If you own one, keep no banking apps on it.
See Galaxy S9, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S range and Samsung contract deals.
Frequently asked questions
What was the Infinity Display?
A tall, narrow, near-bezel-less screen that became the industry template.
Why are phones tall and narrow?
More screen without more width, so one-handed use survives.
Is the S8 worth buying?
No. It is long past software support.
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This is general information, not financial advice.